Comedian Michael Jr., a native of Grand Rapids, has headlined in such comedy venues as The Improv, The Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store, The Punchline, The Comic Strip, and Zanies Comedy Club. (Courtesy photo)

The comedian who has appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "The Jimmy Kimmel Show" and "The Late, Late Show" will be in Grand Rapids on New Year's Eve for an appearance at 7 p.m. at Grand Rapids First Church, 2100 44th St. SW.

"I'm excited about bringing the funny home," he said. "I haven't been here in a while."

A 1990 graduate from Ottawa Hills High School, Michael Wright Jr. launched his career in clubs such as Comedy Den in Grand Rapids. His very first attempt at standup came in a Grand Rapids area movie theater while killing time during a technical glitch.

Michael Jr. frequently performs for audiences of adults as well as children with clean routines.

The regular on "Comedy Central" and BET's "Comic View" tells a typical tale about the aftermath of an appearance in Los Angeles.

"A couple walked up to me, and the wife thanked me for not cursing. The husband said, 'What do you mean? He did curse,'" Michael Jr. recalled.

"They went on back and forth for about 30 seconds," he said. "The guy didn't notice the difference, but his wife did."

Even comedians are surprised sometimes.

After appearing at the Comedy Store on Sunset Strip on the same night as comedian Chris Rock, the two got to talking shop.

"After about 10 minutes, he gave me a look of bewilderment, and he said, 'You didn't curse!'" Michael Jr. recalled. "He was blown away by the fact that he didn't even know I didn't curse."

Sometimes described as a Christian comedian, Michael Jr. prefers not to describe himself that way.

"I don't lead with the fact that it's a clean show," he said. "You don't necessarily let people know you're clean. Just let it be revealed to them."

"My job is to invite the audience into my world," he said. "That's why they're there."

Michael Jr. made his directorial debut in the award-winning documentary, "Comedy: The Road Less Traveled," that took him to stages in a youth prison, a home for abused children, an HIV treatment center, and Skid Row in Los Angeles.

The inspiration came after appearing in a club in Los Angeles frequented by such comedians as Jay Leno.

"I'm talking to people, we're taking pictures together," he recalled. "I look across the street and I saw a homeless guy. I had never noticed a homeless guy before when I had been there."

"I'm looking at him, and I'm wondering how I can get him to laugh?"

Michael Jr., who enjoyed his appearance at the inaugural LaughFest, said comedians he meets on the circuit are becoming familiar with the festival of seriously funny stuff returning in March 2014 for the fourth time.

"I hear people mentioning it. They'll bring it up to me because I'm from Grand Rapids," he said. "I had a fabulous experience when I was there. I think it was a great idea and well executed."

After living in Los Angeles for many years, Michael Jr. moved to Dallas a year ago.

"I still have family in the GR area, so I get back to check out the hometown. Great people still."

He's looking forward to plugging a little local humor into his act.

"I can talk about my family as much as I want to when they're around," he said.